Although CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) [126] and WINX (AUS) [126] continue to be tied atop the third edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2016, the Top 10 features a multitude of new horses.

LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) 126 USA
1 WINX (AUS) 126 AUS
3 MAURICE (JPN) 124 JPN (pictured) 
3 NYQUIST (USA) 124 USA
3 POSTPONED (IRE) 124 GB
3 WERTHER (NZ) 124 HK

Japan’s reigning Horse of the Year MAURICE (JPN) [124] made his 2016 debut a memorable one, as he romped home by two lengths in the Champions Mile (G1) in Hong Kong. It was Maurice’s first start since taking the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (G1) last December, and he has won his last seven races.

Maurice was not the only one to make headlines in Hong Kong this past month, as WERTHER (NZ) [124] won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) by 4 ½ lengths over Military Attack. The gelding came into the race off of a win in the BMW Hong Kong Derby 2016, which is a local Group 1.

In North America, undefeated NYQUIST (USA) [124] won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands by 1 ¼ lengths to maintain his perfect record and improve his rating from 118 to 124. Other victories to his credit this season include the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) and San Vicente Stakes (G2), and he is now a perfect eight-for-eight lifetime. With his win, Nyquist also joined Street Sense as the only horses ever to take both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Finishing second in the Kentucky Derby was EXAGGERTOR (USA) [121], who finds himself ranked off of his strong performance. He came into the race off a 6 ¼-length score in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Also impressing on Derby day was TEPIN (USA) [121], who cruised to victory in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2). In April, she added the Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1) to her resume. Tepin, who is a perfect four-for-four in 2016, is now being pointed toward the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. She has won her last six races, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last October.

Sitting just outside the Top 10 some are some familiar names to the rankings in EFFINEX (USA) [120], FOUND (IRE) [120], and ITO (GER) [120], as well as promising 3-year-olds GALILEO GOLD (GB) [120] and MINDING (IRE) [120].

Effinex, who finished second behind last year’s LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse American Pharoah in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), took the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in April, while 2015 LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) heroine Found got her first victory of 2016 in the Camelot European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes (G3). Meanwhile, Germany’s Ito made his first start of the season a winning one in the Gerling-Preis (G2).

In England, Galileo Gold made his seasonal debut in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) and won with ease by 1 ½ lengths over Massaat. The following day, Minding took the QIPCO 1000 Guineas (G1) over Ballydoyle by 3 ½ lengths.